Leveraging this agreement, Mazda plans to combine the hybrid system with its next-generation SKY engine that is currently under development, and develop and manufacture a hybrid vehicle in Japan. Mazda is aiming to commence sales of a hybrid vehicle starting in Japan by 2013.
Positioning response to environmental issues as a management priority, TMC began sales of the Prius, the world’s first mass-production hybrid vehicle, in 1997. Since then, over 2.3 million TMC-produced hybrid vehicles have been delivered to customers in over 70 countries and regions.
TMC recognizes the importance of benefiting the environment by encouraging the popularization of its eco-friendly technologies, which are represented by its hybrid systems. Accordingly, TMC has announced that it will consider requests from other companies to supply hybrid technology.
Based on its long-term vision for technology development, Sustainable Zoom-Zoom, Mazda aims to increase the average fuel economy of Mazda vehicles sold globally 30 percent by 2015, compared to its 2008 level. In order to offer all of its customers driving pleasure as well as outstanding eco-friendly and safety performance, Mazda is implementing a Building Block Strategy.
Under this strategy, Mazda will enhance the core aspects of its vehicles—including engines, transmissions and weight reduction—and then progressively add electric devices such as idling stop, regenerative braking and hybrid systems.
Through this partnership, each company intends to offer technologies and products with outstanding environmental benefits to as many people as possible.
Toyota has already penned deals with Nissan Motor Corp. to supply those companies with hybrid technology. The company also produces the Prius, the world’s best-selling hybrid vehicle.
Toyota hopes to benefit from the deal by reducing costs through mass production.
Mazda will likely use Toyota batteries, electric motors and control units in the future now that the deal has been signed.
BCIT teams with Toyota Canada to test new prius plug-in hybrid vehicle
The British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Toyota Canada Inc.(TCI) and several other partners across British Columbia to assist in Toyota’s trial of the all-new Prius Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle (Prius PHV).
Trials will begin shortly and continue through next winter with BCIT investigating the interaction between power grids and cars like the Prius PHV and how plugging in electric vehicles on a large scale will affect electrical grids.
Compared to traditional hybrids, the Prius PHV has the ability to recharge its newly developed lithium-ion battery from the electrical grid and travel longer distances and at faster speeds on electric-power alone.
‘We’re encouraged to be joined by partners from across the stakeholder spectrum, to ensure a successful introduction of plug-in vehicles to Canada,’ noted Stephen Beatty, managing director of TCI. ‘Each province that is a part of this national trial has already shown great vision in planning for plug-in vehicles.’
BCIT is constructing Canada’s first campus-based Smart Microgrid on its Burnaby Campus which will provide an ideal environment for plug-in vehicle testing.
‘The partnership with Toyota Canada will provide us with an invaluable opportunity to work with an industry leader in electric vehicle design and innovation,’ says Hassan Farhangi, director of BCIT’s Group for Advanced Information Technology.
‘Together with Toyota and our other partners, we will construct the required systems and tools to investigate the way this vehicle interacts with the power grid. Our goal is to help B.C. prepare for the large scale roll-out of electric vehicles.’
Based on the world’s most popular hybrid vehicle, the Toyota Prius PHV is designed to deliver a range of more than 20 KM and top speed of almost 100 KPH on battery alone.
Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) is working with 13 partners on the first phase of this national trial, including academics, provincial government departments, municipalities and provincial power authorities. Partnerships in four provinces – British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Québec – make this the first Canadian trial of advanced technology vehicles.
TCI will provide each province with a Prius PHV to conduct their local test program, and a fifth Prius PHV will remain with TCI for its own technical and marketing tests. Trials will begin shortly and continue through next winter to assess Prius PHV performance under a range of driving and climate conditions.
Each test vehicle will be fitted with a telematics device to capture performance data, and partners are encouraged to drive their Prius PHV in as many road, traffic and weather conditions as possible.
